On the homotopy theory of equivariant automorphism groups (Q1119936)

For G a finite group and V an RG-module, there are \(\Delta\)-sets of equivariant automorphisms in the usual categories \(PL_ G(V)\subset Top_ G(V)\subset F_ G(V)\); taking the direct limit under inclusions of V yields \(PL_ G\subset Top_ G\subset F_ G\). Homotopy information is obtained for G of odd order. As there are stability theorems for these groups, one obtains explicit calculations for suitable V. Write \(L^ s_ n({\mathbb{Z}}G)\) for the usual surgery obstruction groups; \(L_ n^{(-k)}({\mathbb{Z}}G)\) for the lower L groups (agreeing with the above if \(k=-2),\) \(L_ n^{(-\infty)}({\mathbb{Z}}G)\) for the common value when \(k\geq 1\); and write \({\mathcal L}_ n^{(-k)}(G)\) for the direct sum, over conjugacy classes of subgroups \(\Gamma\) of G, of \(L_ n^{(- k)}({\mathbb{Z}}(N_ G(\Gamma)/\Gamma))\). Then for \(n>0\) and \(| G|\) odd, \(\pi_ n(F_ G/PL_ G)\simeq {\mathcal L}^ s_ n(G)\) and \(\pi_ n(F_ G/Top_ G)={\mathcal L}_ n^{(-\infty)}(G):\) the natural map is the obvious one if \(n\neq 4.\) If W is a complement of \(V^ G\) in V, the proof proceeds via reduction to the calculation of surgery obstruction groups of the \(D^ k\times SW\times T^ n:\) this argument involves choice of V so that a suitable gap hypothesis is satisfied, Mackey functors, and Kirby's torus trick. These groups are evaluated by delicate use of standard techniques, including localisation at ideals of the Burnside ring. Since the \({\mathcal L}\) groups are known, the calculations can be made more explicit, though the details are complicated.